Murray, other youngsters answered call for shorthanded Spurs

San Antonio Spurs' Dejounte Murray shoots around Houston RocketsÕ Trevor Ariza during second half action of Game 6 in the Western Conference semifinals held Thursday May 11, 2017 at the Toyota Center in Houston,Tx. The Spurs won 114-75. less

San Antonio Spurs' Dejounte Murray shoots around Houston RocketsÕ Trevor Ariza during second half action of Game 6 in the Western Conference semifinals held Thursday May 11, 2017 at the Toyota Center in ... more

Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, Staff / San Antonio Express-News

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Spurs’ Jonathon Simmons greets fans as he walks to the bench during a timeout in second half action of Game 6 against the Rockets in the Western Conference semifinals on May 11, 2017 at the Toyota Center in Houston. less

Spurs’ Jonathon Simmons greets fans as he walks to the bench during a timeout in second half action of Game 6 against the Rockets in the Western Conference semifinals on May 11, 2017 at the Toyota Center in ... more

Photo: Edward A. Ornelas /San Antonio Express-News

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Spurs’ Kyle Anderson (left) and Manu Ginobili react after a play during second half action of Game 6 against the Rockets in the Western Conference semifinals on May 11, 2017 at the Toyota Center in Houston.

Spurs’ Kyle Anderson (left) and Manu Ginobili react after a play during second half action of Game 6 against the Rockets in the Western Conference semifinals on May 11, 2017 at the Toyota Center in Houston.

Photo: Edward A. Ornelas /San Antonio Express-News

Murray, other youngsters answered call for shorthanded Spurs

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Rookie Dejounte Murray appeared to have hit his playoff stride in Thursday’s series-closing 114-75 thumping of the Rockets.

In 24 minutes off the bench, the 20-year-old Seattle native had 11 points and 10 rebounds to become just the fourth rookie in Spurs history to record a point/rebound double-double in a playoff game. The others are David Robinson, Tim Duncan and Kawhi Leonard.

Murray also had five assists, two steals and a block in a performance praised by Gregg Popovich.

“DJ came in and he assisted, he played ‘D,’ he scored for us,” the coach said.

With Kawhi Leonard (ankle) and Tony Parker (quadriceps tendon) out, Murray and fellow youngsters Jonathon Simmons and Kyle Anderson stepped up their games in a showcase of the Spurs’ depth.

“Having guys like Jon Simmons, DJ and Kyle Anderson playing great minutes was very important for us,” Manu Ginobili said. “The way those three played really boosted us and took us to the next level.”

Starting in place of Leonard, Simmons finished with 18 points and helped limit All-Star James Harden to 10 points on 2-of-11 shooting. In 21 minutes, Anderson had seven points, six rebounds, three assists and a steal.

Simmons scored in double figures in five of the six games against Houston after entering the series having scored 10-plus points in just one of nine playoff games.

“He had an opportunity to get more minutes and really performed at a high level at both ends,” Pau Gasol said. “I’m very happy for him because he’s been working hard all year. He will continue to get the opportunity in the next series because this opponent we’re about to face (Golden State) also likes to play small and with more of a versatile, dynamic lineup.”

“He was an absolute beast, and that’s who he is,” Patty Mills said of Aldridge, who hit 16 of 26 shots from the field.

Elite company: With four assists in Game 6, Ginobili improved his career playoff total to 800 to become just the second player in NBA postseason history with 800 or more assists, 800 or more rebounds and 300 or more 3-pointers. LeBron James was the first to do it. … With just nine successful 2-pointers Thursday, seven less than Aldridge hit by himself, the Rockets also made NBA history.

Rare playoff rivals: This will be just the third time the Spurs and Warriors have met in the post-season. Golden State won a 1991 first-round series (3-1) while the Spurs prevailed in 2013 (4-2) in the conference semifinals.